Project description:We treated gestating female mice with vinclozolin (VZ), bisphenol A (BPA), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), or control oil, during the time when the prospermatogonia of the exposed fetus undergo global de novo DNA methylation. Using genome-wide assays we detected changes in transcription and DNA methylation, respectively, in fetal prospermatogonia. Our results suggest that EDs exert direct epigenetic effects in the exposed fetal germ cells, but the germline corrects against deleterious effects in the subsequent generation.
Project description:According to recent reports, exposure to environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDs) during pregnancy may harm multiple subsequent generations. We hypothesized that EDs must directly alter DNA methylation and/or transcription in the exposed fetal germ cells to affect the grandchild. In addition, the aberrant pattern must be retained in the germ cells of the grandchild -- withstanding global epigenome remodeling -- to affect the great-grandchild. To test this hypothesis, we extensively searched for immediate and persistent epigenetic effects in purified germ cells of the exposed fetus and those of the next generation. We treated gestating female mice with previously validated doses of vinclozolin (VZ), bisphenol A (BPA), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), or control oil, during the time when the prospermatogonia of the exposed fetus undergo global de novo DNA methylation. Using genome-wide assays, we detected changes in transcription and DNA methylation in the exposed prospermatogonia but these did not persist into the prospermatogonia of the next generation. There was no evidence for transgenerational inheritance of these epigenetic aberrations. Our results suggest that EDs exert direct epigenetic effects in the exposed fetal germ cells, but the germline corrects against deleterious effects in the next generation.
Project description:According to recent reports, exposure to environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDs) during pregnancy may harm multiple subsequent generations. We hypothesized that EDs must directly alter DNA methylation and/or transcription in the exposed fetal germ cells to affect the grandchild. In addition, the aberrant pattern must be retained in the germ cells of the grandchild -- withstanding global epigenome remodeling -- to affect the great-grandchild. To test this hypothesis, we extensively searched for immediate and persistent epigenetic effects in purified germ cells of the exposed fetus and those of the next generation. We treated gestating female mice with previously validated doses of vinclozolin (VZ), bisphenol A (BPA), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), or control oil, during the time when the prospermatogonia of the exposed fetus undergo global de novo DNA methylation. Using genome-wide assays, we detected changes in transcription and DNA methylation in the exposed prospermatogonia but these did not persist into the prospermatogonia of the next generation. There was no evidence for transgenerational inheritance of these epigenetic aberrations. Our results suggest that EDs exert direct epigenetic effects in the exposed fetal germ cells, but the germline corrects against deleterious effects in the next generation.
Project description:We treated gestating female mice with vinclozolin (VZ), bisphenol A (BPA), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), or control oil, during the time when the prospermatogonia of the exposed fetus undergo global de novo DNA methylation. Using genome-wide assays we detected changes in transcription and DNA methylation, respectively, in fetal prospermatogonia. Our results suggest that EDs exert direct epigenetic effects in the exposed fetal germ cells, but the germline corrects against deleterious effects in the subsequent generation. Pregnant mice were administered endocrine distruptors (VZ at 100 mg/kg/day, DEHP at 750 mg/kg/day, and BPA at 0.2 mg/kg/day) startin g at 12.5 days post coitum (dpc) and tissue samples were collected at 17.5 dpc.
Project description:Background: Environmental exposures co-occurring during early life have a profound influence on neurodevelopment. Our previous work in rats suggests that postnatal maternal care modulates the effects of prenatal exposure to bisphenols, an estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemical, on offspring neurodevelopment. Elevated postnatal maternal licking/grooming and prenatal bisphenol exposure have known opposing effects on estrogen receptor alpha (Esr1) expression in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) of the hypothalamus, which could impact expression of estrogen-responsive genes. Based on this previous work, we hypothesized that postnatal maternal licking/grooming would mitigate the effects of prenatal bisphenol exposure on Esr1 expression and estrogen-responsive genes in the developing MPOA. In addition, we hypothesized that there would be interactive effects of prenatal bisphenol exposure and postnatal maternal licking/grooming on DNA methylation, particularly nearby estrogen responsive elements. Results: Our results indicated a significant interaction between prenatal bisphenol exposure and maternal postnatal licking/grooming on estrogen-related receptor gamma (Esrrg) expression in female pups. These interactions were also evident in co-expression gene profiles in female pups; the majority of which were enriched for estrogen-responsive genes. Finally, DNA methylation analyses indicated that adding postnatal maternal licking/grooming as a covariate influenced the number of differentially methylated regions for prenatal bisphenol-exposed male and female pups. These differentially methylated regions were enriched for binding sites for transcription factors that are known to interact with estrogen receptors, suggesting some secondary effects on postnatal gene regulation. Conclusions: These results suggest a novel biological mechanism in which postnatal maternal care can mitigate the negative neurodevelopmental impacts of prenatal bisphenol exposure.
Project description:Background: Environmental exposures co-occurring during early life have a profound influence on neurodevelopment. Our previous work in rats suggests that postnatal maternal care modulates the effects of prenatal exposure to bisphenols, an estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemical, on offspring neurodevelopment. Elevated postnatal maternal licking/grooming and prenatal bisphenol exposure have known opposing effects on estrogen receptor alpha (Esr1) expression in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) of the hypothalamus, which could impact expression of estrogen-responsive genes. Based on this previous work, we hypothesized that postnatal maternal licking/grooming would mitigate the effects of prenatal bisphenol exposure on Esr1 expression and estrogen-responsive genes in the developing MPOA. In addition, we hypothesized that there would be interactive effects of prenatal bisphenol exposure and postnatal maternal licking/grooming on DNA methylation, particularly nearby estrogen responsive elements. Results: Our results indicated a significant interaction between prenatal bisphenol exposure and maternal postnatal licking/grooming on estrogen-related receptor gamma (Esrrg) expression in female pups. These interactions were also evident in co-expression gene profiles in female pups; the majority of which were enriched for estrogen-responsive genes. Finally, DNA methylation analyses indicated that adding postnatal maternal licking/grooming as a covariate influenced the number of differentially methylated regions for prenatal bisphenol-exposed male and female pups. These differentially methylated regions were enriched for binding sites for transcription factors that are known to interact with estrogen receptors, suggesting some secondary effects on postnatal gene regulation. Conclusions: These results suggest a novel biological mechanism in which postnatal maternal care can mitigate the negative neurodevelopmental impacts of prenatal bisphenol exposure.
Project description:According to recent reports, exposure to environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDs) during pregnancy may harm multiple subsequent generations. We hypothesized that EDs must directly alter DNA methylation and/or transcription in the exposed fetal germ cells to affect the grandchild. In addition, the aberrant pattern must be retained in the germ cells of the grandchild -- withstanding global epigenome remodeling -- to affect the great-grandchild. To test this hypothesis, we extensively searched for immediate and persistent epigenetic effects in purified germ cells of the exposed fetus and those of the next generation. We treated gestating female mice with previously validated doses of vinclozolin (VZ), bisphenol A (BPA), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), or control oil, during the time when the prospermatogonia of the exposed fetus undergo global de novo DNA methylation. Using genome-wide assays, we detected changes in transcription and DNA methylation in the exposed prospermatogonia but these did not persist into the prospermatogonia of the next generation. There was no evidence for transgenerational inheritance of these epigenetic aberrations. Our results suggest that EDs exert direct epigenetic effects in the exposed fetal germ cells, but the germline corrects against deleterious effects in the next generation. Pregnant mice were gavaged daily with endocrine distruptors (VZ at 100 mg/kg/day, DEHP at 750 mg/kg/day, BPA at 0.2 mg/kg/day or control oil) starting at 12.5 days post coitum (dpc) and the G1R germ cells were purified from the exposed fetuses at 17.5 dpc. The G2R germ cells were purified from fetuses that were sired by males that had been treated in utero in a G0 mother. G1R spermatozoa were collected from adult males that had been treated in utero at the fetal stages. G2R spermatozoa were collected from adult males who were sired by in-uteo-treated males.
Project description:According to recent reports, exposure to environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDs) during pregnancy may harm multiple subsequent generations. We hypothesized that EDs must directly alter DNA methylation and/or transcription in the exposed fetal germ cells to affect the grandchild. In addition, the aberrant pattern must be retained in the germ cells of the grandchild -- withstanding global epigenome remodeling -- to affect the great-grandchild. To test this hypothesis, we extensively searched for immediate and persistent epigenetic effects in purified germ cells of the exposed fetus and those of the next generation. We treated gestating female mice with previously validated doses of vinclozolin (VZ), bisphenol A (BPA), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), or control oil, during the time when the prospermatogonia of the exposed fetus undergo global de novo DNA methylation. Using genome-wide assays, we detected changes in transcription and DNA methylation in the exposed prospermatogonia but these did not persist into the prospermatogonia of the next generation. There was no evidence for transgenerational inheritance of these epigenetic aberrations. Our results suggest that EDs exert direct epigenetic effects in the exposed fetal germ cells, but the germline corrects against deleterious effects in the next generation. Pregnant mice were gavaged daily with endocrine distruptors (VZ at 100 mg/kg/day, DEHP at 750 mg/kg/day, BPA at 0.2 mg/kg/day or control oil) starting at 12.5 days post coitum (dpc) and the G1R germ cells were purified from the exposed fetuses at 17.5 dpc. The G2R germ cells were purified from fetuses that were sired by males that had been treated in utero in a G0 mother. G1R spermatozoa were collected from adult males that had been treated in utero at the fetal stages. G2R spermatozoa were collected from adult males who were sired by in-uteo-treated males.
Project description:Single cell transcriptomic analyses are increasingly being employed to study human developmental processes in the gonad to advance our understanding of human gametogenesis. However, to date, these analyses have primarily focused on germ cells, while the somatic niche has been largely overlooked. Moreover, a comparative transcriptomic analysis of both female and male early gonad development on the single cell level is currently lacking. We performed single cell RNA-Seq on whole human fetal gonads from first and second trimester, both from male and female. We define gene expression profiles, which include novel marker genes, of major gonadal somatic cell types and validate them on the protein level. We identify the genetic signature of early human male rete cells, both in male and in female gonads. Overall, our study provides an in-depth molecular characterization of both male and female somatic cell types in early fetal gonads.
Project description:Bisphenol A (BPA) analogs, bisphenol B (BPB) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) have been widely detected in the environment and human products with increasing frequency. However, uterine health risks caused by BPBBisphenol A (BPA) analogs, bisphenol B (BPB) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) have been widely detected in the environment and human products with increasing frequency. However, uterine health risks caused by BPB and BPAF exposure need to be further elucidated. The study aimed to explore whether BPB or BPAF exposure will induce adverse outcomes in uterus. We then performed gene expression profiling using data obtained from mouse uterus exposed to BPB and BPAF at 28 days.